Filling-valve.



L. S. EVANS.

mums VALVE.

. APPUCATlbN FILED APR. 194- 1,240,431 Patented Sept. 18, 1917. I 2 SEEETS SHEET l.

54' WI 38 36 mm IIMIIUIIIII ill ml 7 lax/J 3 v IN VEN TOR WITNESSES:

V B Y I f M x ATTORNEY L. S. EVANS.

FILLING VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I, 1914.

1,240,413 1. Patented Sept. 18, 1917,

2 SHEETS'SHEET 2- WITNESSES: INVENTORLQ ATTORNEY Unrrra) sra rns PATENT anion.

LEWIS S. EVANS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

FILLING-VALVE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEWIS S. EVANS, a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of-Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Filling-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to valve mechanism for filling measured quantities of fluid or semi-fluid materials into containers. The object of the invention is to providesimple valve mechanism, whereby exact quantities of fluid or semi-fluid materials may be filled into containers, and which is particularly adapted for filling white lead, heavy paint or similar materials into containers. Another object of the invention is to provide filling mechanism embodying a valve which controlled by suitable weighing devices and so arranged that when a given quantity of material has passed through the valve the valve is closed and the supply shut ofi. A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of the type described in which the valve mechanism iselectrically controlled and which embodies means for preventing waste of electric current.

The invention comprises the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a valve embodying the invention and showing the valve closed; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view with the valve open; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 8*3, Fig. 2, and showing the valve closed; Fig. +2; is an end elevation; Fig. 5 is an end eleva tion on a larger scale with the handle and trip plate removed; Fig. 6 is a detail section on the line 66, Fig. 2; and Fig. 7 is a detail view on a larger scale showing the trip and switch devices.

The filling mechanism shown in the drawings comprises a valve which may be any suitable type of valve, such as a piston, plunger or ball valve, but preferably is a rotary plug valve, and is shown as embodying a casing 2 provided with screw threads for attaching it to the reservoir or to a conduit communicating with the reservoir which contains the material to be filled into containers, which may be any liquid, such as oil, molasses or other light liquids, or heavy viscous materials, such as white Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 1, 1914.

Patented Sept. 18, 191 '7.

Serial No. 828,851.

lead, paint, or the like. The valve casing is also provided with a discharge outlet 5 which is close to the valve member 6, which 15 a conical plug fittinga correspondingly shaped seat in the valve casing and held to its seat by a nut T threaded on the small end of the valve and preferably provided with a handle member 8 for manipulating it. The valve 6 is provided with the usual cross port or passage 6.

At its other end the valve 6 is reduced to form a shank 9 which is provided with a longitudinal groove or channel 10 to receive the bent end of a spiral plate spring 11 which is coiled several times around said shank and whose outer endportion is bent or folded to form a hook member 12 for engaging a fixed post or stud 18 attached to the valve casing. The coils of the spring are preferably bound together by a band 1 1 so as to prevent the spring from opening up too far.

The valve 6 may be rotated manually by an operating handle 15 provided with a longitudinal slot or opening to receive two lugs or projections 16 on the end of the shank 9 and which handle is held to said shank by a screw 17 threaded through the handle into the end of the shank. The post or stud 13 may be placed in an one of a number of apertures 18 in the valve casing, in order to adjust the tension of the spring.

Loosely rotatable on the shank 9 is a plate 19, which may be rigidly attached to the operating handle 15 in various positions around the axis of the valve by any suitable device, such as a screw 20 threaded through the handle 15 into any one of a number of openings 21 in said plate. This plate is provided with a tongue 22, preferably formed of spring metal and which cooperates with a trip device 23 carried by a bracket 21 screwed or otherwise secured to the valve casing. The trip device may be of any suitable type and is so arranged as to be operated or controlled by the weighing scale or device upon which the material is being discharged. It may be controlled by the scale through any suitable connections, either mechanical or electrical, as desired, and for convenience is shown in the drawings as controlled electrically. In the form shown it comprises a casing 25 secured to the bracket 24: and in which is a pivoted strike 26 provided at its ends with pins 27 working in slots in pivoted controlling members 28. The outer ends of the controlling members under normal conditions abut against one edge of a pivoted armature 29 which is controlled by one or more electro-magnets 30 in a. circuit 31. IVhen the circuit 31 is broken the armature 29 is held away from the solenoid by a spring 32 and prevents motion of the controlling members 28 and consequently of the strike 26. If current is allowed to flow through the circuit 31 the armature 29 moves to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 6, and permits the controlling memliers 28' to move past said armature and permit the strike to oscillate about its pivots. Said strike is normally held in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6 by a suitable spring The circuit 31 includes a suitable source of current, such as a battery 34, and also a controlling switch 35, which preferably is operated by a movable part of the scale, upon the pan, platform or beam of which is placed the container to receive the material being measured. In the form shown said switch comprises a contact member 36 rigidly attached to a convenient portion of the fixed scale frame 37 and a movable contact device 38 carried by a movable part of the scale mechanism, indicated at 39.

The device is used as follows The container for receiving the material is placed on the scale pan opposite the proper weights. Operating handle 15 is then turned to open the valve. The tongue 22 yields as it passes the strike 26 and springs in behind said strike to hold the valve open. By adjusting the plate 19 and handle 15 relatively to each other the valve may be opened to any desired degree. The material in the reservoir flows through the open valve into the container and assoon as suflicient material passes into the container, the scale pan or platform drops, closing the switch This permits current to flow through the circuit 31 thereby energizing the solenoid 30 and releasing the strike 26, whereupon the coiled spring 11 rotates the valve device 6 backwardly to close the valve. The valve closes very quickly and positively, the edge of the opening through the valve acting as a shear to cut off the stream of heavy viscous material. The outlet from the valve is close to the valve 6, so that only a very small portion of material can flow from the valve after it is closed and drip ceases almost immediately. Usually in filling a given quantity of material into a container, the scale weights are adjusted to an amount slightly less than the amount of material to be measured so as to compensate for the lost time between actuation of the switch 35 by the scale and full closing of the valve.

Preferably, also, suitable means is rovided for preventing loss of current, w ich might exhaust the batteries in case the apparatus is neglected. In the form shown the circuit 31 includes a switch 43 attached to the bracket 24 and comprising a fixed yielding contact member 44 adapted to c0- operate with a pivoted contact member 45 which is normally held away from the con tact 44 by a spring 46. The pivoted contact member 45 is provided with an arm 47 which is actuated when the valve is opened to close the switch 43. In the form shown said arm is contacted by a portion of the tongue 22. With this arrangement, when the valve is opened, the switch 43 is clomd, and when the scale actuates the switch 35 the strike 26 is released to permit the valve to close. This releases the arm 47 and permits the switch 43 to open, so that when the valve is closed the circuit 31 cannot be completed by closing the contacts 36 and 38.

In the arrangement shown in the drawings the armature 29 is provided with a rigid arm 48 extending to the outside of the casing 25, by means of which the strike 26 may be manually released when desired.

The valve mechanism described is si 16 and enables liquid or semi-liquid materials to be filled in exact quantities into containers. It requires little attention and can be adjusted for any suitable amounts and for filling any desired substance.

What I claim is 1. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a valve, a spring for closing said valve, a trip device carried by the valve casing, a valve operating lever, a plate adjustably connected to said lever and arranged to engage said trip device for hold ing the valve open, and operated by weight of matter discharged through the valve means for releasing said trip device from said plate to allow the spring to close said valve.

2. Apparatus of the clam described, comprising a valve, a spring for closing said valve, a trip device, a tongue adjustably connected to the movable valve member and arranged to enga e said trip device for holding the valve open, electrically operated means for disengaging said trip device from said tongue to allow the valve to close, and a lever connected to said valve for opening the same.

3. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a valve embodying a casing and a valve member rotatable therein, a spring located on the outside of the casing and material for disengaging said trip device attached to the valve member for closing from said means to allow the valve to close. 10 the same, a trip device carried by said cas- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto ing, means connected to said valve member set my hand.

- and rotatably adjustable with reference LEWIS S. EVANS.

thereto and arranged to engage said trip Witnesses: device for holding the valve open, and ELBERT L. HYDE, means operated by Weight of discharged GLENN H. LERESCHE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

